Economics PhD
Why study with us?
91%
of our School's research classified as 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
160
International experts shape world-class academic thought.
100%
of our research environment classified 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
Overview
The University of Liverpool Management School offers you the chance to explore your own ideas through our postgraduate research programmes. We provide a stimulating student experience combined with thought provoking advice from our academic staff and believe that postgraduate students are a vital part of the research environment of the School.
The Economics PhD programme of the University of Liverpool Management School has a long tradition of developing economists of the next generation. We warmly welcome applications in the following areas with selected sample topics:
- Development Economics. For example, Health and economic development; Development finance with a focus on rural livelihoods; Intra-household bargaining and time-use studies; Inquiries into gender and development, Sustainable development from the lens of food security and reproductive health; International political economy and economic development; War atrocities and cultural change.
- Empirical Industrial Organization. In particular, Business dynamism and aggregate productivity growth; International shocks, variable mark-ups and domestic prices; Price adjustments.
- Game Theory. For example, Auction theory and mechanism design; Contest theory; Microeconomic theory of block chain; Epistemic game theory.
- Labour and Sports Economics. In particular, Economics of football and Sports analytics.
- Macroeconomics. For example, Financial innovation and money demand; Unemployment and inflation: theory and evidence. Financial frictions, misallocation and productivity; Consequences of the rise in intangible capital; Informal sector and/or tax evasion; Evaluation of macroeconomic policy; Economic growth and innovation; Innovation and intellectual property rights; Financial shocks and inflation dynamics: Theory and empirics; The housing market and optimal mortgage design; Heterogeneity in the banking sector and the pass-through of monetary policy.
- Theoretical, Experimental and Behavioural Industrial Organization. For example, Economics of Big Data; Competition policy in digital economy; Strategic obfuscation; Behavioural economics and price competition; incomplete information and Price competition.
- Econometrics. For example, Prediction with sparse time series models and penalisation methods; Variable selection in sparse models via random lasso methods; Continuous time financial modelling; Regime switching models for economics; Volatility modelling and forecasting; Structural stability testing; Modelling macro-/financial time series; Econometric estimation of continuous time volatility processes in finance; Trend detection/investment rules in high frequency data; Econometrics analysis including time series and panel
Our research interests
We particularly welcome research proposals that match those of our researchers, including:
- Development Economics
- Empirical Industrial Organization
- Game Theory
- Labour and Sports Economics
- Macroeconomics
- Theoretical, Experimental and Behavioural Industrial Organization
- Econometrics.
Research themes
Our academic staff not only publish in leading scholarly journals but also conduct research programmes for companies and governments worldwide. From the distribution of pharmaceuticals in Africa, through the development of micro-enterprise in India, to the regeneration of Merseyside, our research projects address key issues affecting the world. As a postgraduate student, you can be involved. Our research focuses on growing enterprises, growing innovation and growing communities, around the world and most importantly, in our own region.
Facilities
At your Management School Induction you will be shown the ‘Hot Desk’ working environment, exclusively for use by postgraduate research students. As you progress through the programme, you will be allocated a space in a shared Postgraduate Student Office within the ULMS Doctoral Suite or Mulberry Court.
ULMS has two dedicated computer suites located on the Ground floor of the building (Management School: Grove):
- The McKenzie Trading Room offers 40 PCs with Bloomberg access. Each PC has a dual monitor and a Bloomberg keyboard
- The Grove Wing Computer Room has 28 PCs running the standard University of Liverpool Network.
- DataStream is available on one PC in the PGR Hot Desk Room, and on three PCs within the Grove Wing Computer Room.
- Local printing/photocopying/scanning facilities.
Research groups
Research Centres
Research Centres develop the School's contribution to established themes with a strong focus on applying ideas through funding and impact related work. The School currently hosts three:
• Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Centre for Supply Chain Research
• Centre for Sports Business
Research Clusters
Research Clusters are grass-roots driven and interdisciplinary, focussing on the development of new theoretical and empirical work, typically at the early stages of the knowledge production/impact cycle. The Management School currently hosts two Research Clusters:
• Econometrics and Business Statistics
• Organisational and Employee Well-being
Study options and fees
| PhD | Duration | UK students | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 2-4 years | £4,712 |
|
| Part time | 4-6 years | £2,356 |
|
The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.
* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.
^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.
Entry requirements
Applications are welcomed and will be considered in our highly competitive programme from well qualified graduates who would typically hold a UK first degree or equivalent in the first or 2:1 class, in a relevant subject.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | Overall 7.0 no band below 6.5 |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 100 overall with L 21 R 21 W 21 and S 23 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 185 with no less than 176 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 69 with minimum scores of 61 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
Additional requirements
To apply for this research degree, you must have reached a minimum standard of English. You need to be able to provide evidence of this. See our English language requirements for international students for guidance on the different English language qualifications and evidence that you can provide.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from within the EU and from around the world. You should ensure that your qualifications are equivalent to those which are required to study for this research degree. See our guidance on international qualifications.
How to apply
Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.
Applications are open all year round.
More about applying for research degrees
Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
Find a supervisor
View supervisors in this area
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- ULMS Research Support Team
- Email: ulmsphdenq@liverpool.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)151 795 0575
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Find a scholarship
We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.